When God tenderly called, "Adam, where are you?" (Genesis 3:9), I don't think He used the tone of a detective looking for a criminal. A. B. Simpson, in his commentary on Genesis, suggests His call was the cry of a father seeking his lost son.

God's coming to the Garden of Eden is presented so simply--almost as though He was coming to visit with Adam just as He had before the couple sinned. Of course, God was not ignorant of their sin, but His heart seems unwilling to believe evil of them. Perhaps He was hoping they would welcome His communion as before.

This picture of God's desire to have confidence in His people is beautiful. Later, we see God coming down to visit Sodom and Gomorrah to see if what they have done was as bad as the outcry that had reached Him. Then, almost as if He is hoping that the outcry had been wrong, He adds, "If not, I will know" (Genesis 18:21).

Hear the echo of His tender call to Adam and Eve in the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24) and in the shepherd seeking his one lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7). These passages describe a love that seeks to save, not to punish.

Thank You, Father, for so eagerly desiring to show us Your favor after we've failed.

"O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption" (Psalm 130:7).